Convertible geometric structure



Oct. 6, 1970 M. F. REED CONVERTIBLE GEOME TRIG ST RUCTUR'E Filed March 21, 1968 MAUDE 'F. REED ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,532,225 CONVERTIBLE GEOMETRIC STRUCTURE Maude F. Reed, 37 Cherry St., Malden, Mass. 02148 Filed Mar. 21, 1968, Ser. No. 715,012 Int. Cl. A47f /14 US. Cl. 211181 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A basic geometric structure is provided in a bendable material such as wire or the like. Its basic form is an open rectangular semielliptical line continuum with generally parallel legs having their end portions bent back into foot portions. The wire structure is marked at selected points as guides for bending the wire at some or all of said points to develop a wide variety of geometrical figures which may be mechanically functional, educational as well as artistic.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates generally to a basic geometrical structure that is convertible into a variety of different related geometrical configurations which not only are useful and artistic but also may be employed for instructional and therapeutic purposes.

Description of the prior art line figures made of wire or similar material have been employed heretofore for a variety of purposes both practical and artisic, but generally speaking the starting material for the artisan has been a straight section or coil of wire which must be bent to the desired configuration and the end result being primarily dependent on the artisans skill. It is an object of the present invention to provide a basic geometric form of wire, or the like, having reference points at which the form may be bent into a multiplicity of geometrical forms, some useful, some artistic and some useful for instructional purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention features a geometrical line structure basically an open rectangular, semiopen elliptical line continuum, the legs of which are bent back to form foot portions and the legs of which are also marked with reference indicia at predetermined points where the form may be bent into a variety of configurations both useful, such as frames for tables and chairs, and artisic forms, as well as into various geometrical forms useful for instructional purposes for demonstrating basic geometrical forms and for therapeutic applications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation of a basic convertible geometrical structure made according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of a chair, the frame of which has been formed from the FIG. 1 device,

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of a table the frame of which has also been formed from the FIG. 1 device,

FIG. 4 is a typical three dimensional atristic for-m made by manipulation of the FIG. 1 device at the reference points,

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective showing a plurality of modifiied FIG. 1 forms clustered in a floral pattern,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a folded double component,

3,532,225 Patented Oct. 6, 1970 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, and to FIG. 1 in particular, the reference character 10 generally indicates a convertible geometric structure which may be fabricated from a variety of materials such as wire or tubing, of metal, plastic or the like which lends itself to be Worked into different configurations. The geometric structure 10 is generally in the form of an open rectangular, semielliptical line continuum comprised of two coextensive generally parallel legs 12 and 14 the free ends of which are spaced from one another and bent into the inverted U configuration shown in FIG. 1 to define opposing foot portions 16 and 18. The structure: may be fabricated in any dimension, but for small hand models dimensions would be on the order of six or seven inches in overall height with a two inch spacing between the legs at their widest point. The structure may be in much larger sizes in which it may serve different functions.

The legs of the geometric structure and the apex are provided with markings 20, 22, 24 and 26 which are activity points dividing the geometric figure into different segments and serving as guide indicia for converting the basic geometric structure 10 into other configurations illustrated. These reference marks are considered as points of activity since at these points the wire structure is bent to produce the different configurations. In practice, the uppermost segment is of greater length than the lower segments.

In the basic configuration shown in FIG. 1, the device may be used to demonstrate horseshoe magnets with the feet representing opposite poles. By adding a .crosspiece 25 a continuum may be demonstrated. Alternatively, the structure may be covered with a web 27 such as paper or the like to provide a plane surface and a number of these covered figures may be grouped to form the artistic floral arrangement shown in FIG. 5. By hinging a pair at their ends as in FIG. 6, the development of a central full rectangle and stretched outer ellipse may be demonstrated.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a chair fashioned from the geometric structures 10 to FIG. 1. The chair frame comprises the form 10' bent at right angles at the pair of guide markings 22 so that the feet 16 and 18 and the lower segments of the legs below the points 22 lie fiat against the floor. The upper segments of the hooped legs form the back of the chair and a seat 28, of any suitable rigid material, is secured to the legs at the pair of activity points 24 extending outwardly from it at right angles over the feet.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a table fashioned from the basic geometric structure 10 of FIG. 1. The table shown in FIG. 2 is comprised of a frame 30' and a tabletop 32 with the frame 30 bent from the basic form 10 of FIG. 1. The table frame is formed by bending the geometric form 10 at right angles along the pair of points 22, in a manner somewhat similar to the chair frame of FIG. 2, and then making additional bends at points 24 bending the legs downwardly and again upwardly in a curving loop with the point 26 extending in the same plane as the points 24 to provide the three points of support for the table top 32 which is secured to the frame.

In FIG. 4 there is shown an artistic form made by manipulation of the basic geometric structure 10. In the 3 FIG. 4 embodiment the arms 12 and 14 are manipulated as levers with bends being made at activity points 22 and 24 and with the arm segments between 22 and 24 extending in aligned relation.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, there is shown a further modification of the invention and in this embodiment the basic geometric structure is in the form of combination clamp and rack. As shown, the U-shaped feet have been bridged by a cross piece 33 and locked by bent end 35, or, alternatively, they may be overlapped and joined by soldering or the like. Right angle bends are made at activity points 22 and a series of flattened, rounded or blunted loops 34 are originated from activity points 24. Typically the loops are three in number and form a semi-cylindrical trough 36 as best shown in FIG. -8. When made from spring wire, for example, the FIGS. 7 and 8 device may be employed as a clamp for numerout purposes such as securing a pile of papers between the straight lower leg portions and the semi'cylindrical loops which will yieldably engage the clamped item. Similarly the clamp may be used to clamp a curtain to the sash, or for numerous other applications. When set in the upright position shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the device may be used as a rack to drain bacon, to support soap, pencil, or numerous other items. In a larger size, the form may serve as a hat or a clothes rack.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 9 there is shown a configuration taken on by spreading apart the FIG. 7 device using the legs 12 and 14 as lever arms. It will be seen that by bringing the legs into alignment the rounded loops 34 take on the form of a hemisphere and is useful not only for demonstrating geometrical figures to students but also demonstrates such matters as map projections and the like. By matching a pair of the developed forms of FIG. 9, a full sphere may be demonstrated.

It will be appreciated that the basic geometric structure of FIG. 1 is thus readily converted into a variety of different configurations both decorative and useful and as mechanical items in addition to being an educational aid for demonstrating different mechanical, electrical and mathematical including geometrical principles. Furthermore, the basic geometrical structure would have utility for therapeutic purposes and would serve as a useful and instructive activity by the sick and disabled for exercising their hands and developing dexterity as well as imagination.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A convertible geometric figure, comprising (a) a unitary member of a semirigid bendable rod material,

(b) said member being formed into multiple coextensive and coplaner re-entrant turns forming a semicylindrical trough,

(c) said member being further formed with a pair of parallel legs one at each end of said trough and on one side thereof extending generally along a tangent to said trough,

((1) said legs being formed with base portions extending perpendicularly therefrom parallel to one another and oppositely said trough to define a clearance between said base portions and said trough.

2. A convertible geometric figure according to claim 1 wherein said base portions terminate in reversely extending U-shaped bends coplanar and opositely one another.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 251,903 1/1882 Lewis 461S 1,376,087 4/1921 Fliedner 4615 2,125,985 8/1938 Bond 297448 2,276,308 3/1942 Hugh 46-15 2,461,622 2/1949 Alikas 297439 2,462,991 3/1949 Palinkas. 2,465,104 3/1949 Kullack 297447 2,509,45 1 5/ 1950 Reinholz 297287 2,576,883 11/1951 Koski 297439 3,069,204 12/ 1962 Vesterholt et a1. 297--445 3,276,731 10/ 1966 Orchard 297447 FOREIGN PATENTS 541,052 1/1932 Germany.

FRANCIS K. ZUGEL Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

